This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: … not, there is no possible room for doubt that the business done by the merchants in regard to spirits alone is far in excess of that done by the Samlag, which is so erroneously supposed to ‘control’ the traffic. Any conclusions, therefore, as to the decreased consumption of spirits, and the consequent increased sobriety of the people, based on figures which represent Samlag sales exclusively, will at once be seen to be hopelessly fallacious. Still less does this alleged ‘ control of the liquor traffic’ by the Samlag system become when we pass on to consider the sale of beer in Christiania. Apart from the bars and the retail shops where spirits, or spirits and wines, may be bought, there are in the capital 301 places which have licenses for the sale of beer on the premises, namely, 215 annual licenses; 75 which permit of beer being sold only to persons taking meals; 5 which apply to the sale of light beer only; and 6 licenses available during the life of the present holder. Then there are no fewer than 1,610 licenses held by grocers, dairymen, etc., for the sale of beer FALLACY OF ALLEGED CONTROL 57 for consumption off the premises. Of the holders of these ‘off’ licenses 647 can also sell wine. Other licenses, 40 in number, authorize the sale of wine only. Finally, all the local residents who possessed citizenship rights prior to 1882 may trade in wine, among other items of ‘ general merchandise’; but the number of these specially privileged ones is not known. Leaving them out of account, however, it will be seen from the figures given that there are in Christiania 2,000 places where alcoholic drinks of different kinds can be purchased, and that of these the Samlag operates only thirty. Nor do we reach the end of the chapter even here; for Christiania posse…
